Soccer-Tevez wants long-term stay at Manchester City

April 30, 2012|Reuters

MANCHESTER, April 30 (Reuters) - Argentina striker CarlosTevez has told Manchester City he wants to stay at the club forthe long term in a remarkable turnaround for a player who was anoutcast only months ago.

Speaking ahead of Monday night's Manchester derby that willdecide whether the Premier League title stays at United's OldTrafford or goes to City's Etihad Stadium, Tevez said he hadrepaired his relationship with manager Roberto Mancini.

"My relationship with the manager is totally fine, he's beenas good as gold with me and there have been absolutely noproblems," the former United player told Monday's ManchesterEvening News.

"I'm an ambitious person. I want to work hard and win thingswith City."

Tevez said Abu Dhabi-owned City had big plans and he wantedto be part of them.

"This club has been building something special for the pastfew years. It was the project and the dream that made me come toCity in the first place," he declared.

"I've been here since the start of that project and I sharethe same vision as (owner) Sheikh Mansour (bin Zayed AlNahyan)," Tevez added.

"He has always been brilliant with me and I want to repayhis faith and stay here as long as it takes to make the projecta success."

Mancini and Tevez fell out in September after the managersaid the player refused to warm up as a substitute for aChampions League match against Bayern Munich, with the Italiansaying the Argentine would never play for the club again.

Tevez, who returned to Manchester in February after anunauthorised three-month absence in Argentina, reappeared in thestarting line-up this month after apologising and beingintegrated back into the first-team squad.

City, who are three points adrift of league leaders United,have a superior goal difference and can go back to the top ifthey win at home on Monday.

Tevez goes into the game as the man who can make all thedifference, according to his manager.

"I think Carlos is destined to score the most important goalin the history of this club," said Mancini.